8-1-3: CHIEF:

   A.   Tenure: The Chief's tenure of office shall depend upon good conduct and efficiency. (Ord. 810, 1-7-2013)

   B.   Qualifications: The Chief shall be technically qualified by training and a minimum of ten (10) years' experience and shall have the ability to command firefighters and hold their respect and confidence. (Ord. 835, 1-9-2019)

   C.   Removal: The Chief shall be removed only for just cause. The Chief can request a public hearing before the City Council and Mayor.

   D.   Reports:

      1.   Generally: The Chief shall be held accountable to the Mayor and City Council only, and shall make written and verbal reports thereto as the Mayor and City Council may require. All other department officers shall be accountable to the Chief only.

      2.   Quarterly: The Chief shall report quarterly to the Mayor and the City Council the condition of the apparatus and equipment; the number of fires during the month, their location and cause and date of same and loss occasioned thereby; the number and purpose of all other runs made; and the number of members responding to each fire or other run; and any changes made in membership.

      3.   Annual: The Chief shall make a complete annual report to the Mayor and the City Council within one month before the close of the fiscal year, such report to include the information specified in subsection H of this section, together with comparative data for previous years and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the department and funds needed for the ensuing year.

   E.   Formulation And Enforcement Of Rules: The Chief shall formulate and enforce a set of rules and regulations to govern the department, and shall be responsible to the Mayor and the City Council for the personnel, morale and general efficiency of the department.

   F.   Determining Composition And Number Of Companies: The Chief shall determine the number and kind of companies of which the department is to be composed and shall determine the response of such companies to alarms.

   G.   Conducting Drills: The Chief shall, at least once a month, conduct suitable drills or instruction in the operation and handling of equipment, first aid and rescue work, salvage, a study of buildings in the City, fire prevention, water supplies and all other matters generally considered essential to good firemanship and safety of life and property from fire.

   H.   Keeping Records: The Chief shall see that complete records are kept of all fires, inspections, apparatus and minor equipment, personnel and other information about the work of the department. (Ord. 810, 1-7-2013)

8-1-4: MEMBERSHIP:

   A.   Qualifications:

      1.   Residence: The membership of the department shall consist of such persons as may apply and be approved by the department and shall be able bodied citizens residing within the City, preferably property owners whose business activities are normally within a thirty (30) minute response time of Shelby.

      2.   Physical Examination: Determination of whether candidates are able bodied shall be determined by a physical examination by a practicing physician duly authorized to practice in this State, which examination shall be in writing and filed with the Fire Department. Such examination shall disclose the ability of such applicant to perform such physical work usually required of firefighters in the performance of their duty.

      3.   Other Qualifications: All other qualifications except the physical one shall be determined by the Chief and such requirements shall be approved by the Mayor and City Council.

      4.   Age: Minimum age shall be legal age, able bodied and fireline interviewed for all new applicants.

      5.   Mandatory Attendance: All members must make fifty percent (50%) of all meetings and forty percent (40%) of all fires annually or said member will be brought before the officers for department status.

      6.   Background Check: New applicants will have a background check; any applicant found to have a felony charge or conviction will not be considered for appointment.

      7.   New Member Requirements: Newly appointed members to the department must serve a probationary period of twelve (12) months, complete a thirty (30) hour basic firefighting course, carry a current first aid/CPR card, and pass a six (6) month test on all apparatus before being fully approved as a regular firefighter in good standing.

   B.   Suspension Or Discharge: Any member of the department may be suspended or discharged from the department by the Chief at any time the Chief may deem such action necessary for the good of the department. On written request of such member to the Mayor and the City Council, the member shall be given a public hearing on the charges brought by the Chief. (Ord. 810, 1-7-2013; amd. Ord. 835, 1-9-2019; Ord. 842, 7-20-2020)

8-1-5: EQUIPMENT AND APPARATUS:

   A.   Generally: The department shall be equipped with such apparatus and other equipment as may be required from time to time to maintain its efficiency and properly protect life and property from fire.

   B.   Recommendations Of Apparatus Needed; Purchasing: Recommendations of apparatus and equipment needed shall be made by the Chief, and after approval by the Mayor and the City Council shall be purchased in such manner as may be designated by the Mayor and the City Council.

   C.   Housing: All equipment of the department shall be safely and conveniently housed in such places as may be designated by the Mayor and the City Council. Such places shall be heated during the winter season.

   D.   Use For Private Purposes: No person shall use any fire apparatus or equipment for private purposes, nor shall any person wilfully and without proper authority take away or conceal any article used in any way by the department.

   E.   Unauthorized Handling: No person shall enter any place where fire apparatus is housed or handle any apparatus or equipment belonging to the department unless accompanied by, or having the special permission of, an officer or authorized member of the department.

   F.   Hiring Out Or Assigning For Response To Calls: No apparatus shall be hired out or permitted to leave the City, except in response to a call for aid at a fire in a neighboring community, without the consent of the Mayor. The officer in charge of the department shall have power to assign equipment for response to calls for outside aid in accordance with section 8-1-8 of this chapter, and in other cases only when the absence of such equipment will not jeopardize protection in this City.

   G.   Provisions Concerning City Owned Apparatus: Section 8-1-8 of this chapter and subsection F of this section shall pertain only to City owned apparatus. (Ord. 810, 1-7-2013)

8-1-6: BADGE:

Each member of the department shall be issued a badge designating rank. (Ord. 810, 1-7-2013)

8-1-7: INSIGNIA OR WARNING DEVICE FOR CAR:

Each member of the department driving a car shall be issued a suitable insignia. (Ord. 810, 1-7-2013; amd. Ord. 842, 7-20-2020)

8-1-8: CONTRACTS FOR PROTECTION WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES:

The City is authorized to enter into agreements or contracts with nearby incorporated communities or governing bodies or other organizations to provide the members of such communities or organizations with fire protection or to establish a mutual aid system, or with individuals residing adjacent to the City. (Ord. 810, 1-7-2013)

8-1-9: SUPPRESSION OF ARSON; INVESTIGATIONS:

The Chief or other fire officer is required to assist the proper authorities in suppressing the crime of arson by investigating or causing to be investigated the cause, origin and circumstances of all fires. (Ord. 810, 1-7-2013)